Five words

1. CLEAR: When will politicians realise that repeatedly using the word ‘clear’ does not actually make their view or policy clear? It is very odd to keep hearing it – in almost every statement. Saying something is clear doesn’t make it clear any more than saying something is good actually makes it good.

2. PLAN: Miliband and Cameron have a ‘plan’. We know this because they keep telling us. We get glimpses of what these and might look like, but we don’t get any idea of what the vision is that will shape their respective plans. On the other hand, it would be a bit weird if they didn’t have a plan, wouldn’t it? But, why do they need to keep telling us they have one?

3. AMORAL: In his Easter message, David Cameron pleads with those who disagree with his policies not to dismiss him as ‘amoral’. Fair enough. But, who has dismissed him as amoral? Disagreement with policies also surely cannot be dismissed as merely dismissive, rather than principled. Bishops seem to be a target, but our recent Pastoral Letter was also theologically and morally driven – and should not be dismissed by politicians who find that moral and theological basis inconvenient or objectionable.

4. EASTER: According to the Prime Minister, “Easter is all about remembering the importance of change, responsibility, and doing the right thing for the good of our children.” Oh. I thought it was about the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. I applaud David Cameron’s defence of the place of faith in the public square, but he can’t escape the cultural and political dynamic that reduces (legitimate) subversive religious vision to some bland appeal for community cohesion.

5. SYMPATHY: This is what I feel for all politicians, especially party leaders. They are partly trapped in a culture that the rest of us either foster or accept – one that expects them to have a view on everything and an ability to perform an act before an audience. Driven by the media we pay for, we don’t allow leaders to change their mind, learn to learn, or develop their thinking-based-on-experience. We are the poorer for it.

Share this:

Like this:

Related

5 Responses to “Five words”

“I applaud David Cameron’s defence of the place of faith in the public square, but he can’t escape the cultural and political dynamic that reduces (legitimate) subversive religious vision to some bland appeal for community cohesion.” As Linda Woodhead has pointed out, this is actually about the diverging views of the Church and the essential faith of most people: this is where eg the country ceases to be a ‘Christian Nation’.
It would appear that David Cameron’s language is putting into words what this country believes it wants, while it seems that the Church’s language puts into incomprehensible words those (theological) concepts which the public no longer understands or relates to.
Like you, ‘sympathy’ is high on my list: wishing that we could allow space for politicians to grow into understanding, and to be changed … yet, even here there are parallels :: we could also long for our Church to find a way past its present narrow focus on eg sexuality (in whatever context this is debated) and find the voice that calls out to future needs, in words that will be heard.
Like all generalisations, this does not allow for the individuals who DO speak with a clear and inspired voice – but for the public ‘the Church’ is an entity just as ‘politicians’ must include the whole spectrum.

Couldn’t agree more.
I could add the problems with a political leader (to be honest, I’m thinking of Milliband) saying “We get it”, in terms of MPs’ expenses and/or party funding etc., but then behaving as if he doesn’t.
Just saying “I get it” doesn’t mean you do get it.
Again, as you pick up in number 1, saying “let me be clear” doesn’t mean they are being clear.
Again, with ‘plan’, you’ve skewered them. They say they’ve got a plan, but they are (understandably) loathe to tell the voters about it because that would make clear where they are ‘planning’ to make cuts.
And again, you/ we should be sympathetic. They have a tough time.